Series Overview Faith Witness Prayer Community

Witness Noun—a person who sees an event, typically a crime or accident, take place. Verb—give or serve as evidence of; testify to. A “Bold Witness” has unwavering confidence in the evidence, and proclaims it.

Our Focus What a Bold Witness looks like How to become a Bold Witness Where you can practice being a Bold Witness

Bold Witness The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. Acts 4:1-2

Bold Witness looks like: They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand. Acts 4:3-4

Bold Witness looks like: The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family…

One who is controlled by the Holy Spirit Bold Witness looks like: …They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?” Acts 4:5-7 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people!”  Acts 4:8 One who is controlled by the Holy Spirit

Bold Witness looks like: Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity…Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit… Ephesians 5:15-18

Bold Witness looks like: Courage in the face of opposition If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.  Acts 4:9-10 Courage in the face of opposition

Bold Witness looks like: Jesus is “the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.” Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved. Acts 4:11-12   An unwavering commitment to the exclusive claims of Jesus

Exclusive claims Muhammad will never save you Gautama Buddha will never save you Hinduism will never save you Hare Krishna will never save you

Exclusive Claims The Bahai faith will never save you Charles Taze Russell will never save you Joseph Smith will never save you Mary Baker Eddy will never save you

Exclusive Claims Only JESUS will save you! Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6

“A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse…” C.S. Lewis

How to become a Bold Witness Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. Acts 4:13 Decide to be with Jesus…daily Sign up for Elreta Dodds’ apologetics class

Where can we practice Bold Witness?